Bid to bag a piece of Bentley Boys history

A Derby Bentley restoration project, first owned by original ‘Bentley Boy’ and former Chairman of Bentley Motors, Woolf ‘Babe’ Barnato, is due for auction at Historics’ summer sale at the Brooklands Museum on Saturday, May 26.

Heir to diamond magnate Barney
Barnato, Woolf found fame as the first three-time consecutive winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and was rightly regarded by W.O. Bentley as “The best driver we ever had."

Barnato is also synonymous with Historics’ permanent auction home, Brooklands, having won the Six Hour Race and Double Twelve Race in 1930, and his ‘silent sports car’ makes its way to the museum in May with a stirring story to tell.

A very early first series 3.5-litre Derby Bentley, the car was ordered by Jack Barclay for Woolf Barnato, and the chassis delivered to Park Ward on February 2, 1934 for the fitting of an all-aluminium saloon body.

Woolf Barnato took ownership of the car on March 14, 1934, minus the winged ‘B’ mascot but complete with the town cap fitted to the radiator, and enjoyed ownership for two years before changing to the steel bodied successor, the 4.25-litre.

The car was purchased by the current vendor in 1967 who, as an accomplished automotive engineer in his early twenties, discovered the engine block was cracked causing the car to overheat.

Sent away for repair, the engine then went missing from the storage shed before it could be returned, rendering the car static and in a state in which it would remain thereafter.

Needing repair and restoration, many of the instruments and electrical components remain, with the car also supplied with the carburettors, radiator and P100 headlights.

Although much of the paperwork went the way of the engine, the chassis number is visible on a small bonnet mounted plate along with copies of the original chassis cards, with the vendor also confirming that the numbers match those on record with the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club archives and Bentley Drivers Club.

Offered at No Reserve and despite the demanding nature of the restoration needed, Historics is hoping for fervent bidding on this intriguing piece of ‘Bentley Boys’ history, at its next sale on Saturday, May 26.

Posted in: Auction,Barney Barnato,Bentley,Bentley Boy,Bentley Motors,Bid,Brooklands Museum,Classic/Vintage,Derby Bentley,Historics' Summer Sale,International,Jack Barclay,Luxury,Woolf Babe Barnato